Generic Preventive Measures - Checklist

To assist States with the implementation of Article 9 and Part 3 of the Technical Annex, in 2009 the then Coordinator on Generic Preventive Measures, Colonel Jean-Christophe Le Roux of France, developed a questionnaire which serves as a checklist for States to consider when they are developing procedures, guidelines or regulations on the implementation of generic preventive measures. The checklist has been reproduced in full below. It can also be found in Protocol V document CCW/P.V/CONF/2010/6/Add.1, 11 November 2010. Essentially the checklist is a tool to facilitate the implementation of generic preventive measures. While it does not have any legal status, it is hoped that the checklist will clarify various issues, establish best practises and serve to monitor and improve the implementation of generic preventive measures at the national level.

1. Specification

2. Concept

3. Development

Reducing UXO sensitivity

Reducing potential civilian casualties from ERW

Qualification work

4. Production

5. Utilisation - 5.1 Storage

5.2 Transportation and handling

5.3 Training(a) Is the user trained to perform visual checks of munitions before use or firing? (b) Is the user trained to test the weapon system and/or munitions before use or firing? (c) Is the user trained to use munitions? Does he know the limits of use defined in user manual? (d) Are negatively influencing factors on munitions, such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, climatic, biological, polluting, radiating or poisoning hazards, known to the users? (e) Is the user trained to identify ERW and apply procedure of treatment (e.g. mark, isolate, inform…)? (f) Are there training programmes adapted to different profile of users (operational, headquarters, maintenance…) and level of knowledge to have? (g) Do training programmes involve all personnel in the entire chain involved with the life cycle of munitions? (h) Are there specific training programme for specific munitions?

6.2 In service surveillance(a) Is there an ‘In Service Surveillance’ procedure and organisation to assess reliability and safety during the lifecycle of munitions? For pyrotechnic parts? For electronic parts? For other parts? (b) Is there a system in place to check that all the explosive and pyrotechnic parts within the munition remain safe and reliable? (c) Is there a system in place to check that all the explosive and pyrotechnic parts within the fusing chain are capable of initiating the next stage as required? (d) Is the integrity of the pyrotechnic and explosive train checked (e.g. gap between components, integrity of components …)? (e) Is there a procedure to identify and remove degraded munitions from operational service (i.e.: regular inspection of munitions)? (f) Is there a procedure to increase/reduce the operational lifetime of munitions? (g) In case of an increase in the operational life time of munitions do the tests and analysis maintain confidence in the previously required level of reliability and safety? (h) Is there an ‘In Service Surveillance’ procedure and organisation to record the environmental conditions that the munitions have been exposed to/ tested in?